About Theatre Olympics

History About

The Theatre Olympics was established in 1993 in Delphi, Greece, on the initiative of the famous Greek theatre director, Theodoros Terzopoulos.

TO is an international theatre festival, which is presenting some of the achievements of the greatest theatre practitioners from around the world. It is a platform for theatrical exchange, a gathering place for students and masters, where a dialogue despite ideological, culture and language differences is encouraged. Moreover, as its subtitle suggests, Crossing Millennia, it is an initiative that emphasizes the importance of connecting the past, present, and future together.

The Committee

The first official meeting of the International Committee of TO took place on the 18th of June, 1994 in Delphi, Greece. The founding committee was a group of eight internationally renowned theatre directors: Theodoros Terzopoulos, Nuria Espert, Antunes Filho, Tony Harrison, Yuri Lyubimov, Heiner Müller, Tadashi Suzuki and Robert Wilson. According to their decisions the TO is a non-profit organization. Its administrative headquarters are located in Athens, Greece (European office) and in Togamura, Japan (Asian office). Moreover, the International Committee of TO meets once a year. It can attract new members, on the condition of gaining at least two-thirds of the votes and being recommended by one of the existing members.

Hosting Countries

Delphi, Greece - 08.1995

Shizuoka, Japan - 16.04-13.06 1999

Moscow, Russia - 21.04–29.06 2001

Istanbul, Turkey - 10.05–05.06 2006

Seoul, South Korea - 25.09-07.11 2010

Beijing, China - 2014

Wrocław, Poland - 2016

The International Committee of Theatre Olympics

The founding committee was a group of eight internationally renowned theatre directors: Theodoros Terzopoulos, Nuria Espert, Antunes Filho, Tony Harrison, Yuri Lyubimov, Heiner Müller, Tadashi Suzuki and Robert Wilson. According to their decisions the TO is a non-profit organization. Its administrative headquarters are located in Athens, Greece (European office) and in Togamura, Japan (Asian office).

Currently the International Committee of TO consists of Seventeen members:

Theodoros Terzopoulos

(Greece)

Tadashi Suzuki

(Japan)

Robert Wilson

USA

Heiner Müller

Germany

Wole Soyinka

Nigeria

Yuri Lyubimov

Russia

Tony Harrison

UK

Ratan Thiyam

India

Nuria Espert

Spain

Giorgio Barberio Corsetti

Italy

Georges Lavaudant

France

Antunes Filho

Brazil

Jürgen Flimm

Germany

Choi Chy-Rim

Korea

Valery Fokin

Russia

Liu Libin

China

Jarosław Fret

Poland

Theatre Olympics India 2018 Title: “The Flag of Friendship”

In the Indian theatre tradition there is deep and meaningful relationship between Theatre and the Flag. According to ancient texts, at the first ever theatrical performance in his court, Lord Indra, the king of Devatas (demi gods), used the power of his flag over the Daityas (evil spirits) to silence their objections and to remove all obstacles placed by them to prevent the performance. He then presented this flag to the actors, thus forging bonds of friendship between the Gods and performers.

It is with the same spirit and intent of friendship, we present to all practitioners of this great Art, the theme of Theatre Olympics 2018 – ‘Flag of Friendship’!

Flag of Friendship – celebrates universal friendship and, just as Indra’s flag acts as a protector and symbol of the Indian theatre tradition since time immemorial, we hope and pray that this 21st century event - Theatre Olympics 2018 – will hoist the flag of friendship and human values throughout the world.

Indian philosophy has always propagated the importance of the indivisible whole as above that of the individual. This Oneness can only be achieved through the feeling of friendship towards every living being. With this philosophy as its fountainhead, theatre upholds the dignity and unity of humanity and not the pride of an individual. Here every artist’s individuality becomes a sacrificial offering to the indivisible and infinite Oneness.

Today, the demon of violence and terrorism is surfacing stronger than ever. Together, more than ever before, we need to combat the situation, where the world is being held to ransom for trivial reasons and petty gains. With the Flag of Friendship, we are endeavouring to bring the world together by organising and hosting Theatre Olympics 2018.